Improvement in car-axle journal-boxes



1 PATENT oF-rrcn WILL 1AM MEDD WATSON, QFTONIOA, ILLINOIS.

- IMPROVEMEN'ITDIN CAR-AXLE JOURNAL-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,534,, dated March28, 1876 application filed March 4,51876. Y

To all whom itqnay concern: 4

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. WATSON, of Tonica, in the county of LaSalle and State of Illinois, have inven-teda new and valuableImprovement in Oar-Axle J ournal-Boxes; and I do hereby declare-that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description-of the constructionand operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making apart of is made in two parts, D D, with interior shoulders a tocorrespond with the thickness of the sleeve, and in the bottom part D ofthe box is a groove, 12, to allow the oil to flow the full length of thebearing. At the end of this part of this box is also a reservoir, d, forthe oil. On the-axle is further secured a collar or ring, 0, to catch orexclude the dust, and a corresponding trough, e, is formed in the boxfor the collar to turn in, the whole so arranged as to catch and holdthe waste oil after passing from the axle; or the collar can be usedwithout the trough.

In place of this collar a small fan may be substituted for the purposeof blowing a current of air out of the box to prevent the dust fromentering.

The box D D is inclosed in a frame or support, E, on the end of which isa hoop or band, G, passing over the outside hub of the carwheel, andmaking almost a close fit with the joints, all made tight with orwithout packing. The waste oil passing from the axle and out of the hoopor band next to the car-wheel, the oil keeps the stationary hoop G andthe hub of the wheel lubricated, so that, if any dust enters at the endof the hoop, the oil will catch and hold it. h h represent fans attachedto or cast with the wheel B, to drive the dust away from entering thebox. Inthe end of the frame or support E is an aperture for theadmission of oil into the oil-reservoird, said aperture being closed bya cover, G provided with one or more flanges, as shown. The flange ofthe cover G2 enters a recess or trough,

i,'which may have a' small quantity of oil or other liquid substance init, so that the bottom of 'the flange will enter, and thus'form adust-lute and prevent the dust from passing through; or,'if desired, thelute may be made i by placing a small quantity of cotton, sponge, wool,or other suitable substance in the bottom of the grooves in the lid andrecess, or both, to catch the dust and prevent it from entering the box.I also use packing k, of rubber, leather, or other suitable substance,either on the flange of the lid or on the trough, to form an additionallute to prevent the dust passing, and, when found sufficient, the otherlutes are dispensed with.

The cover G is held in its place by means of a pivoted catch, H, whichis connected with the frame E by a chain, m, passing through an eye, n,or short chain or spring on the cover, said chain being long enough toallow the cover to be lifted out of the grooves, and heavy enough tokeep the fastening from turning by the jarring of the cars, and keep thecover from being jarred off when the cars are in motion.

The hoop, fan, cover, and trough may be attached to the present boxesand wheels on cars now in use.

When a small fan is used instead of the collar e, an air-pipe may beattached, terminatin g in a case outside of the box-frame, in which isplaced sponge, cotton, or other strainer, to strain the air and free itfrom the dust.

As a substitute for the collar a smallele vator may be used to elevatethe oil from the bottom of the trough and empty it on the axle, to keepthe axle lubricated and wet with oil all the time when in motion, andthus making a better dust-catcher.

In arranging these devices the wheel is first put on the axle; then theend of the box frame is put on and shoved up to the wheel; next, thecollar, having been fitted, is heated and shrunk onto the axle in theproper place;

on and hardened. The journal-box is now put on the axle and slipped intothe frame, and

the end screwed on tight. I

' The opening in frame E closed by the cover G2 also serves to introducewool, cotton, or other equally good absorbent, to keep the end andupperpart of the axle oiled by capillary attraction, and also to examine theaxle, when necessary, in case of heating or otherwise being out oforder; and, as time is of great importance in running railroad-trains,the opening of the aperture without unnecessary delay is of very greatimportance, by allowing time to attend to the heated axle as soon asfound, without having to' run for a wrench or spend time in unscrewingthe usual bolts.

If desired to use this invention to make the car-axle journal-boxes nowin use dust-tight, the cover and trough can be attached, and the ring orcollar on the axle and the trough for it to turn in can be attached. Thering ismade of thin iron, and shrunk on the axle in its proper place.The trough is then put over it and riveted to the inside of the end ofthe frame, the hoop to pass over the hub being attached to the outsideof the same end of What I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is- 4 1. For car-axle journal-boxes, a dust-lute consisting of acover, G provided with. one or more flanges adapted to enter a recess orrecesses in the frame E, substantially as described.

2. The journal-box D D, provided with shoulders a, groove b,oil-reservoir d, and

trough e, for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The fans h h, attached to or formed on the side of the car-wheel B,for the purposes set forth.

